The New Carlisle Women’s Network has a long history in the area. In January 1990, a group of idealistic men and women painted and carpeted and made the three old convent rooms at Sacred Heart Church attractive and useable for a program for women who needed help with their pregnancies. As a local organization, Family and Youth Initiatives, had surveyed the Bethel Township area, and consulted with local GRADS educator, Pennie Whisler, they knew the service was needed. Found were large numbers of women who had no help with their pregnancies, no means to afford the necessary items to keep their babies safe and healthy. Many of the women had no insurance, no job, and no classes on how to handle their pregnancy, and no role models to help teach them how to care for their babies after birth. Many did not have a car seat to get the baby from the hospital, or a crib at home. The GRADS program helped those still in Tecumseh Schools, but for those out of school, no help was seen. And so in January 1990, State Senator Merle Kearns, officiated and helped open the pregnancy center at 207 West Lake Ave, New Carlisle.
Throughout the years, the center has moved to a full center located at 468 N Dayton Lakeview Rd, trained many volunteers to help the increasing load of clients, offered job skills classes, GED training, cooking and nutrition classes, as well as those steady parenting and pregnancy classes for all who ask for help. Five years ago, the organization began offering Fatherhood classes as well, so fathers might know their value as a father and a year ago began offering services in Spanish for the increasingly diverse population. As Executive Director of FYI, Pat Banaszak, states, “We knew the challenges at the beginning, and throughout the years, we have helped hundreds of families. It is so good to have some of our clients come back and tell us about their lives as their children grow, and see that they are self sufficient and such good parents. Our job as mentors is to just be that little extra help so many need to encourage and help them understand their roles as parents in their child’s lives.”
Because of its move to help men and expand its services to a more holistic organization, the group decided to rename the center as The Parenting Center. As current director of the three centers of FYI (Fairborn, Springfield, and New Carlisle), Nikki Stefanow says, “We have three centers in Clark and Greene Counties and we needed a name that more defined what we do. We still care for women as they are pregnant, but with the addition in the past years of men in our program, our name just did not reflect all the programs we have now. The Parenting Center shows our depth with our programs and hopefully will welcome in many parents who only thought we were just for pregnancy. We welcome in all those with babies and children under 5.”
The New Carlisle Center has Julie Daniels, a local New Carlisle resident, as director. Julie, who has been with the organization for a number of years, brings with her much experience in being a parent and great role model. Together, with her assistant, Maria Rodriguiz they look forward to helping all those in need of the services locally.
To celebrate their 25 years of service, the Fairborn Knights of Columbus, will sponsor a dinner as a fundraiser for the group. The Annual Spaghetti Dinner will be held at the Mary Help of Christians Parish Center, 954 North Maple Ave, Fairborn, on Jan. 30 from 6-9pm. Famous for their Italian cooking, the Knights are expanding their menu this year and embracing the diversity of the area. Instead of cannoli, the Hispanic Community of New Carlisle, will be making special desserts for the affair. Tres Leche cake, rice pudding, and other very special desserts will be offered during the evening. Entertainment will be a mix of Italian and Spanish music, Hispanic dancers, and lots of fun. A silent auction with many baskets and gift cards will be auctioned off during the evening. The public is invited to come to the dinner and entertainment. For more information about the affair please call the FYI main office at 845-0403.
Those who would like to volunteer to help at the network are asked to call Nikki, at 845-0403. Needed are both men and women, bi-lingual and grandparents, who can do a variety of tasks from folding clothes to mentoring. Call today or come to the dinner to hear more about the programs.
